James Victore was recently called an existential cowboy, in so many words, by Print Magazine. He is a designer, an art director, an author, an activist and a teacher. He runs an independent studio hell-bent on world domination.

James likes to work on instinct and inspiration. He is the type of designer to get more kismet from a delicious meal or an adventure with family than from sitting in front of his computer. He is a spirited renegade in the world of design. His smile lights up the world from under his signature mustache.

Victore taught at the School of Visual Arts in NYC for over 20 years. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is represented in the permanent collections of museums worldwide. His commercial work, for clients such as MailChimp, Starbucks, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Time Magazine, Esquire Magazine, Moet & Chandon, Yohji Yamamoto and The City of New York, continues to wow by being sexy, strong, and defiantly memorable. It was an honor to ask him our Dumb Questions.

Q. Do you have a nickname for your truck?

I’ve thought a lot about this over the years. And, no.

Q. If you got to pick one historical woman to draw on, who would you choose?

I’d love to paint on the naked and elderly body of Eleanor Roosevelt. She is one powerful smart and sassy woman.

Q. Can you invent a clever bumper sticker slogan? We may or may not steal it.